Don’t Miss Out

You’re all set!

Look out for our weekly updates soon.

Connect with us

Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.

Sign up now for the latest news, top picks for your kids, and helpful tips.

Common Sense Media says

Users say

Parent of a 5, 9, 12, and 14 year oldWritten bypluggedinparentApril 5, 2012

AGE

14

QUALITY

too sensual for my kids

ustin Bieber is growing up. And though some fans might long for him to remain their beloved cute-and-cuddly teen idol forever, the now 18-year-old singer seems determined to add another adjective to the list of words often used to describe him: seductive.
It's not that the lyrics to his latest hit, "Boyfriend," are slanted toward the sexual. Indeed, just looking at them on paper, they're all but innocuous: "If I was your boyfriend," Bieber begins, "I'd never let you go/I can take you places you ain't never been before." Nothing too problematic there, nor, really, in the rest of the song, as we'll see momentarily.
No, what's changed isn't so much the message Bieber delivers as the way he delivers it. Instead of launching his latest hit with his trademark high tenor, Justin swaggers into this song with a low, whispered rap that signals the arrival of a decidedly more grown-up sounding Bieber 3.0. It's not quite Barry White, but Bieber's husky delivery of lyrics like "Chillin' by the fire while we eatin' fondue" makes that otherwise innocent activity feel ever so slightly … dangerous.
The chorus finds Bieber back in familiar sonic territory, earnestly emoting his intentions to be the best boyfriend ever as he exploits the upper register that made him famous: "If I was your boyfriend, never let you go/Keep you on my arm, girl, you'd never be alone/I can be a gentlemen, anything you want/If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go."
And then its back to that raspy rap business: "Tell me what you like, yeah, tell me what you don't/I could be your Buzz Lightyear, fly across the globe." I think it's safe to say that Barry White never named-checked an animated action figure toy while wooing the ladies. Bieber, however, is still young enough to pull it off with a straight face. Neither is there any winking involved when he appropriates that time-honored hip-hop tradition of tossing cash around to impress a lady. "I got money in my hands that I'd really like to blow," he brags, "Swag, swag, swag on you."
The song leaves little doubt that Justin Bieber is taking the next step in his career, walking down a trail so many teen heartthrobs of yesteryear—Usher, Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown all come to mind—have already blazed. Thankfully, content-wise, Bieber's latest offering is more lyrically restrained than anything those singers were producing at a similar point in their careers. As for the smoldering, sensual undercurrent? That may be a boyfriend of a different intention.

if i was your'e boyfriend, you'd never be alone

Swaggie?

I suppose it's a good song for kids who love Justin Bieber but honestly, I don't see a reason why he would put in words "swag" and "swaggie" unless he's trying to become "cool", or even "bad". And I don't know why he went from bubblegum pop to mumble-rap. It's an okay song, just the change is unsettling and the lyrics are kind of off.

More Mature for Justin

Definitely not Baby but Justin is slowly transitioning to more mature music even though the song is not inappropriate. Tokyo Motel mets Sel Gomez. With great vocals and a cool rap solo. Definitely tells you how to treat a lady which is good.

Great song from great singer

I adore Justin Bieber! His new single sounds more mature and grown up. He sounds much better than before. When he sings, "Girlfriend, girlfriend, you can be my girlfriend till the ------------- world ends.'' sounds not aproprette for fans 6 and under. But I know what he's really saying. The song itself is great but maybe sound wierd to little kids 6 and under and some fans that are use to the old Justin. But I like the new Justin better. Some fans got to get use to his change.

Definitely more mature, but parents should be careful

"Boyfriend" provides a more mature sound. JB has definitely evolved much since "Baby". However, I would say that this song wouldn't be suitable for younger audiences (I.e. 12 and under). The lyrics explore some sexual content, which may alarm some parents. Although the song itself doesn't contain heavy sexual-content, the music video for "Boyfriend" is definitely a video that parents wouldn't want to see their children watching. It is absolutely horrendous. The whole video is basically Bieber dancing and touching other girls, who are wearing extremely revealing clothes.
So basically, bottom line is: letting your kids listen to this song is okay, but be concerned of its light sexual content. Also, beware if your children are watching the video, maybe wait for a few more years until your kids turn 15 or older.

boyfriend

Its ok but not very inventive

Bieber is stuck in a rut with old-sounding melodies and uninventive lyrics. He walks in every other American boy band cutie's footsteps. His b*lls have finally dropped, though, so he sings better now. Album "Believe" is ok too, but not a future classic.

boyfriend!!!! good thing

I think that this song is a great song by Justin Bieber for kids all ages. Even though he talks about being someones boyfriend, he makes it real smooth, and doesn't use any curse words or inapropeiate use of words, that children can enjoy.

Holy crap.

This song is all sexual, as in the song he mutters rap so you don't hear what's he's saying. He's talking about having sex, laying in the bed. In the music video, he's touching the girl's stomach and breast. This song is too sensual! Bieber takes it too far.

There are two ways to take this song.

Technically there's nothing wrong with song. But if you're anything but an innocent 8 year old you're gonna get more out of it. The whispering is just a little too much. Now I'm not saying I don't listen to it, or watch the video, but I just gotta warn you, there are two ways you can take this song. And they are very, VERY, different.

Nothing more than skinny girls washing cars in summer-wear.

All I can say is, I personally dislike Bieber's music, and I think most parents nowdays would, too, as most grew up in the 80's, which means they probably have a completely different taste in music than this cheap teen pop.
In musical terms, it's very lacking, no real message, the whole song is poorly set up, maybe a few chords played on the guitar in the chorus, but to me it's pure junk.

Our Policies

Download our free app

Common Sense is the nation’s leading independent non-profit organization dedicated to empowering kids to thrive in a world of media and technology. Families, educators, and policymakers turn to
Common Sense for unbiased information and trusted advice to help them learn how to harness the positive power of media and technology for all kids.

The Common Sense and Common Sense Media names, associated trademarks, and logos, including the Decider Slider and Age Ratings Bugs,
are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (FEIN 41-2024986).